More than a third of the military equipment sold worldwide in the five years 2016-2020 came from the United States, underscoring the country’s role as the world’s largest arms exporter, according to research released today by the Swedish institute SIPRI.
37% of the weapons sold worldwide during this period came from the United States, which provided military equipment to 96 countries, increasing their exports by 15% over the previous five years (2011-2015). Half of US arms sales went to the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia accounting for a quarter of total US military equipment exports.
However The total volume of military equipment exports in the period 2016-2020 decreased for the first time after the period 2001-2005, reaching the levels of the Cold War.
“It’s too early to say whether the period of rapid arms growth over the past two decades is over,” said Peter Weseman, a SIPRI analyst.
“The economic impact of the covid-19 pandemic may prompt some countries to reconsider their arms imports in the coming years,” he said in a statement.
“At the same time, however, even at the height of the 2020 pandemic, several countries signed major contracts to purchase military equipment,” Weseman said, noting that the United Arab Emirates had signed an agreement with the United States to purchase F-35 fighter jets. and drones, while Poland, Japan and Germany bought warplanes.
Weserman said it remains to be seen whether the new US administration under Joe Biden will reconsider its arms export policy to Saudi Arabia. The Gulf kingdom remains the world’s largest importer of arms and supplies equipment from Britain and France in addition to the United States.
Russia is the second largest exporter of military equipment and weapons, accounting for one-fifth of the world. Over the past five years, Moscow has sold arms to 45 countries, with more than half of its exports going to India, China and Algeria.
The third largest exporter is France, which signed major contracts with India, Egypt and Qatar in the past five years, according to SIPRI.
Germany and China complete the top five arms exports. Beijing has provided arms to 51 countries, but many markets are closed to Chinese arms – such as those of India, Japan and Australia – for political reasons.
Middle Eastern countries increased arms imports by 25% in 2016-2020 compared to the previous five years, with Saudi Arabia increasing them by 61% and Qatar by 361%.
Asia and Oceania were the countries that imported the most weapons, accounting for 42% of those sold in the past five years. India, Australia, China, South Korea and Pakistan were the largest importers in the region.
“For many countries in Asia and Oceania, China is increasingly seen as a threat, pushing for an increase in arms imports,” SIPRI said.
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